The emerald ash borer has wreaked tremendous havoc on ash trees across the country. According to pest control services in Oakland, the California region’s biggest issue is firewood brought into the state. Each year, over ten million pounds of firewood are brought in and much of it contains dangerous species such as the emerald ash borer and gypsy moth, both of which were transported to California illegally in violation of nationwide Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service quarantines. Oakland exterminators say the gold-spotted oak borer is also a problem, having infested at least four new host species of oak in recent years, none of which have any natural defense mechanisms. As a result, tens of thousands of trees were killed.